Locomotive reversing-valve gear.



J. HENDERSON.

LOGOMOTIVE REVERSING VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1912.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. HENDERSON.

LOGOMOTIVE REVERSING VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.1, 1912.v

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

outrun s'ra'rns PATENT ounce.

JULIUS HENDERSON, 0F JONESBORO, ARKANSAS.

LOCOMOTIVE REVERSING-VALVE GEAR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jonesboro, in the county of Craighead and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Reversing-Valve Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to reversing valve gear, and is especially designed for use upon locomotives; the object in view being to do away with the usual eccentrics now in common use in connection with what is known as the Stephens gear; also to do away with the lead and lap lever used in thelValchart type of gear. In the last-named gear, where the lead and lap lever is used, if the main rod should become a trifle too long or too short from reducing and lining the main rod b'rasses, which is very frequently the case, the lead of the valve is changed, in

creasing the lead at one end of the stroke and decreasing the lead correspondingly at the other end of the stroke. This causes the valve to get out of time and leads to considerable trouble, besides reducing the efficiency of the engine.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the present ditficulties hereinabove referred to, and provide a gear by means of which both the valve lead and travel are controlled from the main crank pin, producing a perfect valve movement, regardless of defective cross head travel.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the valve gear, looking toward the link side. Fig. 2 is an elevation taken from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the crank arrangement. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the crank arrangement, omitting the connecting rods. Fig. 5is a side elevation of the same, showing additional means for fastening the cranks in place.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a cylinder of a locomotive engine, 2 the piston rod, 3 the main connecting rod or pitman, and 4 the driving wheel of the locomotive.

5 designates the steam chest, in which the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 1, 1912. Serial No. 723,392.

Patented Sept.30,1913.

usual slide valve is mounted, and 7 the valve stem which is slidably mounted in the guides 8.

9 designates the reversing lever mounted on the toothed segment 10 and adapted to be held in any desired position by means of a thumb latch 11. Extending from the reverse'lever is a connecting rod 12 which is attached to a crank 13 on the rock shaft 14 having at its opposite end a crank 15, from which a rod 16 extends to a valve operating rod 17. The rod 17 is connected at one end to a crank 18 on a rock shaft 19, at the 0ppositeend ofwhich isa crank 20 carrying a pin 21 mounted in a journal box 22 slidable up and down in a guide 23 connected with the stem of the slide valve, hereinabove referredto. At its opposite end, the rod 17 is slidably connected with the usual link 24 pivotally supported by a hanger or saddle 25, all of the parts herein above described being of the usual construction and arrange ment.

In carrying out the present invention, the drive wheel of the engine is provided with a crank o-r wrist pin 26, on which the-main connecting rod of the locomotive is journaled, and mounted on the end of said pin is a crank 27 which is adjustable axially around the wrist pin 26, and adapted to-be held at any desired point of adjustment by means of a binding screw 28. The crank 27 is itself provided with a pin 29, on which a second crank 30 is mounted, so as to be capable of being adjusted axially around said pin 29 and held at any desired point of adjustment by means of a set screw 31. A link throw rod 32 is connected at one end to the link 24, and at its opposite end to a pin 33 on the crank 30, while another link throw rod 34 is interposed between the link 24 and the pin 29 of the first mentioned crank.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that by adjusting the cranks 27 and 30 on the pins 26 and 29, respectively, the desired throw may be given to the link 24, and after said parts have been primarily set in their proper positions, they will not be affected by the usual wear which takes place on the eccentrics of reversing valve gear mechanism now in common use. This means that the valves will be maintained in proper working positions at all times, giving the requisite lead, besides making the motion as a whole very economical in the way of running repairs. Any slide or piston valve may be operated with the valve motion hereinabove described, with either an inside or outside admission, and it may be used on stationary engines that are required to run both forward'and backward.

Instead of the method of fastening the cranks shown in Fig. 4:, the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 may be employed. In this figure, it will be noted that each crank 27 and 30 is split, as shown at 35, and the split portions thereof extended to receive a clamping bolt 36, enabling each crank to be firmly clamped on its respective pin. As an additional safe guard, the key bolt 37 may be passed through each crank, and also centrally and transversely through the pin. Furthermore, a key or spline 38 may be inserted in opposing grooves in the cranks and pins, as shown in said figure. In this way,

it will be impossible for the cranks to slip on the pins 26 and 29.

lVhat is claimed is:

In reversing valve gear, the combination I second link operating crank adjustable axially around the pin of the first mentioned crank, the two adjustments being independent of one another, whereby the throw of the link throw rods may be adjusted independently of each other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my'signature iii-presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS HENDERSON.

WVitnesses l I H. AJSENNEISTER, J r., Mrs. MERLE STEVENS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 03 I V 

